Look what I got...

Now that Summer school is over, I used some of the money I made to get a pedicure! I realize this is not the most attractive picture of my feet. But, you get the idea. They are really cute and I'm SO excited to have them done. Zach will tell you I don't ever spend money unless I have to (or rarely) so this was a big treat for me.

The Vietnamese woman I went to asked, "Do you want flowa" I said, "How much?" She said, "Fi dolla." I said, "No thank you." She said, "for you, I do 2 flowas for 2 dolla, OK?" So, I agreed to 2 flowers for 2 dollars instead of one flower for 5 dollars. I LOVE the Vietnamese place because even though it is a little hard to understand them, they always do a GREAT job! And she did this ALL by hand! She didn't use the spray brush or anything.

When I got back, Bailey wanted a "sower" (she can't quite pronounce the F sound yet) but this was the best I could do, and she was happy with it. :)

After I finished my Pedi (which also included massage, AND sea-salt scrub, AND cool foot wrap) I went to CATO to see if I could find a new purse and some new tank tops. 5 straight days of over 100 degrees takes a toll on us! And, look what I found...

The bag on the right is my new purse (I have been using my old one for AT LEAST 2 years now. I think I was pregnant with B when I got it).

And, the bag on the left, was on CLEARANCE and I thought it would just make the most adorable new diaper bag. :) Both bags together were only 21 dollars! My mom is going to sew some elastic into Baileys new bag because since it's not actually a diaper bag it doesn't have any place for a sippy cup and I would like to have one. I also did find a few cute tanks and a new skirt ALL for less than 50 dollars!

(skirt not pictured) :)

This morning, Bailey and I got up and went to wal-mart to get these:

So that we can TAME THIS:

Bailey's closet number one

Bailey's Dresser

Bailey's Armoire drawers

And, finally, Bailey's Armoire (closet number 2)

I know, it's BAD! I need to really get in there and organize. We don't want to throw any of it away because we would like another baby someday and they grow SO fast that it's almost impossible to keep only the clothes she can currently wear, in her drawers.

I'll post my CLEAN pictures later. I hope to have this finished today!

One last thing, Zach and I are moving (I HOPE). We are in the process of selling our very small house and building a new one. We are going to have to live with his mom and dad for a while while ours is being built. Also, because we need to get some student loan and credit card debt paid off. Please pray for us. We are REALLY excited to have a new home where our kids can grow up but the whole process is really stressful for me because I always worry about what if we cant afford the new house. I believe we are making the right decision and I really think this will work out. Here is a picture of the house we are hoping to build.

SPECIAL 101st Post (By Bailey)

Dear Daddy,

I love you SO SO SO much! You make me laugh a lot when you play with me. I love to hide from you and let you chase me. You are a really good daddy! Mommy said she is SO glad I have you in my life and I am too! I know that you will always take care of me and love me more than anything. Thank you for everything you do!

Happy Father's Day! I hope you like the cereal bowl I painted for you. Mommy helped only a tiny bit to show me what to do. Daddy, the paint didn't taste very good but it sure looks pretty on your bowl.

I love you daddy!

Love,
~Bailey Grace

100th post!!!!!

OK, I'll post more later, but for now you have GOT to check this giveaway out!!!!!!


http://thepiferfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway.html

Lazy Sunday...

If this doesn't make you smile... NOTHING will :)

It has come to my attention (ahem, thanks honey) that it looks like Bailey is holding a bottle. I didn't even think about the fact that it looks like a bottle. But, it's not. Luckily her sippy nipples fit on her bottles so she is actually drinking from a sippy cup. She hasn't had a bottle since the day of her first birthday :) (one thing I did right) :)

On this episode of estesfamilyof3...

My baby is napping. If I'm lucky I have one hour to myself. I know, Zach thinks I should nap while she does and he's right. However, I LOVE my afternoons when she sleeps just a bit and I can do something ADULT like check my e-mail, write a new blog, look for a new recipe (I'll post tonight's below, I made it up) or just sit and listen to R & B Soul, lol. Ok, dont usually do the last one but today I just wanted some music while I sit and sip my water and enjoy my hour. If I'm REALLY lucky she will sleep for 2 hours. But, since that happens MAYBE once a month, I will not press my luck and will GET ON with this post!

OK, we visited my parents in Arkansas this past weekend. It was a lot of fun and we took Bailey to see the horses at the place my little sister, Monica, volunteers. One of the miniature horses bit Zach and it was funny because he told the horse "you bite my baby and I'll bite you." Zach is so protective of Bailey. He loves her so much and it is so sweet. I will have to post pictures later because we didn't have our camera and I'm waiting for my mom to send the pictures to me (which means I should probably ask her for them). HAHA.

Looks like I'm going to Arkansas again this weekend because Zach's principal asked him to go to a conference in Saint Louis tomorrow through Saturday. So, after I sub his afternoon class on Thursday, we are headed back to mamaw and papa's house. Later, she will call them grandma and grandpa I'm sure. But for now that's what she can pronounce :)

Feels like I have so much to say. I guess I'll keep going. I downed almost an entire tube of orajel last night. My tongue and throat have been hurting for almost a week and I have actually been a little concerned because it's not a pain I've ever felt before. However, I feel really silly talking about it so I haven't said anything here. But, it feels like I inhaled bug spray or something. My throat is my main concern because it doesn't feel like a cold but the more I drink, the more it hurts and I DON'T mean Alcohol. I don't drink! I just mean anything I drink really hurts it more. I think I burned my tongue on some coffee the other day. Usually though the pain doesn't last a week. I'm going to give it a few more days and if it doesn't go away, I'm going to the doctor. It's just strange and I have a weird feeling about it.

My child is still "testing" me. I have started time-out because when I spank her she growls at me. I ADORE my baby. All of you know that. But she has DEFINITELY hit her "terrible twos" about 7 months early. She's VERY trying right now. I feel lost and discouraged. I know it's just a phase but it's so hard for me to know what to do. As an educator of older kids, it's easy to discipline. They know what they can and can't do and they know what happens if they break the rules. Bailey doesn't even know the rules yet. She still doesn't sleep through the night. Last night she was awake THREE times. And, this is NOT unusual. I think I would be a better mom and be able to cope with her new discoveries of "defying" me if I could get more sleep. Again, I adore her. She is by NO means a bad kid. She's fun, playful, sweet, and adorable. But, she has discovered how to irritate mommy. She LOVES to put the dog food into the dog water and watch it "grow." Yeah, I know, funny that my 17 month old has figured this out. She also will run from you if you need to take something away from her. AND if she wants something she can't have, she SCREAMS. I've learned to ignore it and she will stop after about 30 seconds. So, I know she is doing normal toddler stuff I'm just always too tired to know what to do. Please pray for me. Before school was out I HONESTLY felt like I was going to lose it. My mind, I mean. I honestly was scared because I was becomming so depressed, tired, moody, emotional, and not myself. Then, we had a weekend and summer school started. If Bailey doesn't start sleeping better I just don't know what I will do. Physically I am having a hard time. I love her so much and it's not her fault she won't sleep. I'm going to try again, Lillie, to put her in her own bed. Crying won't hurt her but it breaks my heart to do that to my child who I wanted and prayed for for so long. Ok, I am going to get off of here. Thanks for "listening" to me.

Here's the recipe:
What to do with Stew meat when it's too hot for stew:
Boil the meat until all the pink is gone
drain water
pour into baking dish
add 1 yellow squash (chopped)
one bell pepper (I used orange/gold chopped)
2 red potatoes chopped (WITH skins)
1/2 bottle of steak marinade (NOT A1 but actual Heinz marinade)
1/2 stick melted butter or margarine
season with steak seasoning
cook at 250 for an hour or 2

~MELODY ELAINE

A baby no more :(

Guess what we started today ...

(I apologize if this offends anyone I think all of her "stuff" is covered... I "bleeped" it out :). She didn't actually "go" but we are working on it. Especially after I woke up to "THIS" this morning! (Again, I don't think we are showing anything inapropriate but do let me know if you think I am!

See the diaper next to the dog?

She also decided last night that she would help herself into the sunroom and out onto the porch while I was making dinner. Now, before I get a bunch of comments about how horrible a mother I am and how I NEVER should leave her "unattended" let me just say, I could hear her the entire minute and a half that I wasn't watching her! But look where she ended up!

Yeah, it's 65 degrees and my child has NO care in the world that she's freezing! Check out her "apple bottom."

Mom, here is a picture of the curtains. THANKS for making them for us :)

Time to potty train?

I know I should have taken a picture of this but, naked baby butt might not be a good thing to plaster on my blog :)... don't want anyone to call DHS on me.

I went down to the hallway to print something in the office this afternoon. Upon my return to the living room I start to smell an AWFUL smell. (I was maybe gone 2 minutes). As I'm walking my mind is racing. What is that smell? Why is it so strong? What has my child done? When I got back I saw...

She had pooped and decided she was NOT going to wait for mommy to get back and change her. She took her diaper off and put it on the floor beside her. I calmly said "Bailey did you poop?" She looked at me and pointed to the diaper and said "poo, see" Yes, honey, I see! So, I had to clean the carpet because she sat on the rug after she took her diaper off. So, the question is...

Is it time to potty train her?

FINALLY!

Congratulations Kami! Praying everything goes well :)


LOVE,
MELODY
(Signature not working tonight :) )